"Schools have an urban footprint," explained Frank Rogers, education and outreach director for Cacapon Institute. "There's the school building, impervious surfaces - like asphalt parking lots - and grounds that are mowed, that are managed."

School grounds are the perfect place for practical applications of watershed conservation projects, such as rain gardens, which is what about 300 students at Tomahawk Intermediate School will be doing Tuesday.

A rain garden is a either a natural or constructed shallow depression in the ground that can catch storm water runoff from driveways, sidewalks, streets, roofs, patios and even lawns.

The garden is sown with deep-rooted, native plants and grasses that allow the rain water runoff to slowly drain into the soil, filtering pollutants from the water.

Rain gardens reportedly are effective in removing up to 90 percent of nutrients and chemicals and 80 percent of sediment from rain water runoff. Compared to conventional lawns, rain gardens allow about 30 percent more storm water to soak into the ground, according to reports.

While, PHLOW is the brain child of Cacapon Institute, Rogers said it stems from previous state programs and programs conducted by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society and Girl Scouts.

"Through funding and technical resources, students are educated about watershed conservation issues, clean streams and they find practical applications on school grounds to reduce storm water runoff," he said.

The program is funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Bay Watershed Education and Training grant program as well as private donations.

Rogers said PHLOW is funded through the next two years at $20,000 a year.

PHLOW programs are scheduled for 10 public schools throughout the greater, eight-county Eastern Panhandle and schools in Williamsport and Hancock, Md., this month.

The Eastern Panhandle and neighboring areas are in the Potomac River watershed, which is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has instituted strict, new limits on pollution getting into the bay via its tributaries. Storm water runoff management is one of the sectors targeted by EPA for pollution reductions.

The other sectors are agricultural operations and waste water treatment plants.

The Cacapon Institute is located in High View, Hampshire County. It was formed in 1985 in response to concerns that increasing development, industry and agriculture were harming the Cacapon River, according to its website. It has since expanded its mission to include the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds.